Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: Farideh on 04 Jul 2021, 18:42
Title: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 04 Jul 2021, 18:42
New comic.
RIP, Doctor Mandibles.
Nice callback to the origin of the term 'bug' when it relates to computers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug#History).
Quote
The term "bug" was used in an account by computer pioneer Grace Hopper, who publicized the cause of a malfunction in an early electromechanical computer. A typical version of the story is:
In 1946, when Hopper was released from active duty, she joined the Harvard Faculty at the Computation Laboratory where she continued her work on the Mark II and Mark III. Operators traced an error in the Mark II to a moth trapped in a relay, coining the term bug. This bug was carefully removed and taped to the log book. Stemming from the first bug, today we call errors or glitches in a program a bug.
Hopper did not find the bug, as she readily acknowledged. The date in the log book was September 9, 1947. The operators who found it, including William "Bill" Burke, later of the Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren, Virginia, were familiar with the engineering term and amusedly kept the insect with the notation "First actual case of bug being found." Hopper loved to recount the story. This log book, complete with attached moth, is part of the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 04 Jul 2021, 19:04
Poor bug...
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Wombat on 04 Jul 2021, 19:27
I'm reminded of a poem I read in school, "the lesson of the moth (https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2003%252F07%252F29.html)."
Quote
but at the same time i wish there was something i wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself
RIP, weird bug. You will, most likely, be forgotten.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 04 Jul 2021, 20:16
That poem is strangely beautiful.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Gnabberwocky on 04 Jul 2021, 20:50
I guess silver medal for Fastest Exit goes to Anthony Jones?
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: BenRG on 04 Jul 2021, 23:13
Pintsize, if you want to keep an insect as a pet, do try to work out what species they are and their needs beforehand. Some insects may look pretty but smell bad (and spit that bad smell at people who get close)... or only last 24 hours... or prefer to burrow deep underground. Or require pretty exotic foods that your room-mates would prefer not to see being eaten.
This is probably just my brain at work but, honestly, I think that this says alarming things about that light fitting. A safe florescent light fitting shouldn't be able to do the 'kill' part of the 'attract and kill' function.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 04 Jul 2021, 23:19
Pintsize, if you want to keep an insect as a pet, do try to work out what species they are and their needs beforehand. Some insects may look pretty but smell bad (and spit that bad smell at people who get close)... or only last 24 hours... or prefer to burrow deep underground. Or require pretty exotic foods that your room-mates would prefer not to see being eaten.
This is probably just my brain at work but, honestly, I think that this says alarming things about that light fitting. A safe florescent light fitting shouldn't be able to do the 'kill' part of the 'attract and kill' function.
Dr. Mandibles did specifically go straight for the exposed power connector so it’s probably just a missing cover-plate. Common enough issue and possibly deliberate as those translucent “frosted” covers actually block a chunk of light.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: DaiJB on 05 Jul 2021, 00:00
"Other": It must be something that will creep everyone else out. I can see Pintsize researching all manner of bugs, reptiles, arthropods, molluscs, slime moulds etc., solely to discover the one critter that will gross out everyone in the apartment, because hey, it's Pintsize we're talking about - new body, same motivation...
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Gyrre on 05 Jul 2021, 01:07
"Other": It must be something that will creep everyone else out. I can see Pintsize researching all manner of bugs, reptiles, arthropods, molluscs, slime moulds etc., solely to discover the one critter that will gross out everyone in the apartment, because hey, it's Pintsize we're talking about - new body, same motivation...
Giant wheta(sp?) perhaps? Some sort of lizard with lots of extra skin or extra ribs? A spider would be off the table since Martin has arachniphobia.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 05 Jul 2021, 06:52
Social deviants should have the right to vote. Even though I don't want the likes of Pintsize to have a say in anything.
( that was a spottedlanternfly wasnt it goood )
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: BenRG on 05 Jul 2021, 06:55
Social deviants should have the right to vote. Even though I don't want the likes of Pintsize to have a say in anything.
Am I the only who thinks that Pintsize is probably one of the most mentally- and emotionally-stable members of the original cast and, by a long margin, the one most likely to make a sensible choice when it matters?
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: zmeiat_joro on 05 Jul 2021, 10:49
A praying mantis just landed on my elbow and I considered taking it out on a sheet of paper, as I usually do with insects but decided it's safer for it to just let it leave the apartament on its own -- it seemed too delicate for that. Did didn't see it again. It was crawling on my table, first on the top, the on the side, then fell off. Do they bite? I scratched it afterwards.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: cucio on 05 Jul 2021, 12:33
I guess silver medal for Fastest Exit goes to Anthony Jones?
Well, Tony doesn't exit that definitely, it might come back some time in the future. Maybe silver belongs to Faye's dad?
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: baronvonfritz on 05 Jul 2021, 14:51
I'm gonna go with Monkey/ape as an old pintsize chaos gremlin proxy, a function which he seems to no longer be able to perform. They fling poo, climb on everything, get into every thing, and would be amusing to have a distant human relative as a pet for an android.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Gnabberwocky on 05 Jul 2021, 18:12
Poll response: if Pintsize couldn't kill a Roomba, he can't kill a cat.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 05 Jul 2021, 18:18
Comic's up.
Faye: Don't even think about it.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 05 Jul 2021, 18:26
"JUST NO"
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: DaiJB on 05 Jul 2021, 22:54
SEE?! Faye knows that face even though she's never seen it - because the old Pintsize is still there, behind a new facade.
(...and I am really looking forward to Winslow and Momo's reaction to the new chassis...)
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: BenRG on 05 Jul 2021, 23:15
You know what this says to me? Pintsize was never spontaneously producing those inappropriate jokes and ideas. If you watched, you could see the wheels turning in his head to create them and it seems that Faye had been watching!
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 05 Jul 2021, 23:20
Faye knows all. Faye sees all.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: John Allenson on 06 Jul 2021, 04:18
I've never met you before but I recognize you.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 06 Jul 2021, 07:17
Also Faye has saved the cost of the replacement lamp fixture she has not wrapped around Pintsize's head.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Roborat on 06 Jul 2021, 14:03
Also Faye has saved the cost of the replacement lamp fixture she has not wrapped around Pintsize's head.
Is that what the box she is holding is? I couldn't make out what that was.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 06 Jul 2021, 14:21
I didn't even notice the box on my first read through... It does say 'LED lighting'
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 06 Jul 2021, 15:54
SQUARE BUYS - led lighting
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 06 Jul 2021, 19:01
New comic.
Clinton, is that you? You don't act like yourself...
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 06 Jul 2021, 19:27
.... how...?
*lol*
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: ihaveavoice on 06 Jul 2021, 22:07
Don't mind me over here enjoying the fact that in both cases of a QC character realizing they're bi, though through different circumstances, we ended up with a scene with the smaller one jumping up and wrapping their legs around the larger one while Jeph drew attention to the bigger one touching da butt. Quite different tones when it happened, but it's a thing! The QC sudden leap + butt grab!
Side note: I had to read the words "butt grab" under the first one not to just interpret that as Bubbles stabilizing Faye by holding her in place. I was like ohhhhh, right, butts.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: MrNumbers on 07 Jul 2021, 00:29
Bones: Jumped.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Thrillho on 07 Jul 2021, 01:20
HELL YEAH BIG BOY BONE TOWN
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 07 Jul 2021, 04:43
Hercules!
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: John Allenson on 07 Jul 2021, 07:52
Hercules is cute. Clinton is adorable.
I was afraid that Clinton and Elliot would continue to be so awkward with one another that they would never make any progress in a relationship.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 07 Jul 2021, 09:01
Uhoh, at this rate, Elliots face will be the same shade as Clintons hair by the second panel of tomorrows comic.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 07 Jul 2021, 19:03
Yup, you shoulda left Hercules with Yay. Anyway... :-D
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Thrillho on 07 Jul 2021, 19:08
Relatable
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Torlek on 07 Jul 2021, 19:09
Hercules likes to watch.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 07 Jul 2021, 19:49
Cats are voyeurs. And annoying pests, at times.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: St.Clair on 07 Jul 2021, 19:57
"You're paying attention to something that isn't me."
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 07 Jul 2021, 20:25
If Hercules is anything like my cat, he'll curl up on the foot of the bed and go to sleep. He won't see a thing, and if he does he won't care anyway.
At least he's not a kitten, or their feet would be in serious danger.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Farideh on 08 Jul 2021, 19:31
Oh, that brings back memories from when our cat was still a kitten. We were renovating and didn't have a bedroom door. Nothing spoils sexy time quite so much as having a tiny cat clamp down on your big toe with those razor sharp nails.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: shanejayell on 08 Jul 2021, 20:09
*bounce bounce*
Cat: *POUNCE!*
*male scream*
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Mordhaus on 08 Jul 2021, 21:44
Let him in.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Wombat on 08 Jul 2021, 22:03
I can confirm that having a cat watch you (or even be in the same room doing other things like cleaning oneself) is NOT conducive to sexy times.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: zmeiat_joro on 09 Jul 2021, 16:02
They're mostly interested in the furniture that they don't have access to. Or the Poodle. Mostly they play with each other on the other side of the room. They get bored and go downstairs before the serious stuff starts.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: jesslc on 09 Jul 2021, 21:24
I am reminded of the time when Dora's plan to watch porn was interrupted by Mieville staring at her for hours.
So who else is expecting either... - Yay just turning up in Elliot's living room to pick up Hercules, or - (more likely) a scene in which Roko is arguing with Yay, something along the lines of "No, you can't just barge in and pick up the cat! And what have I said about eavesdropping on people while you're in my apartment!"
Just me?
Because it would be very in character for Yay to have overheard Thursday's conversation (comic 4564), and then be using that to justify to themselves that they are Elliot's cat sitter now and therefore they should clearly pick up Hercules straight away.
Perhaps we'll see this next week...
I feel fairly sure that even though Roko told Yay not to eavesdrop anymore they're probably still doing it. In fact I'm not sure if Yay is even capable of turning that off.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: St.Clair on 09 Jul 2021, 21:32
If Elliott has anything like Alexa in his apartment then Yay already knows.
Turns out there's some non-evil digital assistant alternatives (came across these on tumblr). Open source and secure alternatives:
- Voice activated smart speaker: Mycroft (can be purchased as a complete unit, or DIYed with a Raspberry Pi and microphone+speaker array) https://mycroft.ai/
- Smart Home automation: home-assistant (cannot be purchased, originally developed by MIT) https://www.home-assistant.io/
- Zigbee (the wireless protocol for smart lights and other smart devices) bridge: Conbee II (this takes the place of a Phillips Bridge, for instance. And is in many cases better because it works with all brands of smart light that use Zigbee--which is almost all of them, including the cheap IKEA ones--and also works for devices that aren’t lights. Cannot really be DIYed because Zigbee needs special hardware, not just software) https://phoscon.de/en/conbee2
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 12 Jul 2021, 10:00
How very interesting... I've been looking for something like those for some time.
Title: Re: WCDT July 5th - July 9th (4561-4565)
Post by: Thrillho on 12 Jul 2021, 14:12
Am I the only who thinks that Pintsize is probably one of the most mentally- and emotionally-stable members of the original cast and, by a long margin, the one most likely to make a sensible choice when it matters?